UK law firm PGMBM initiated court proceedings on Monday against the government over the Hotel Quarantine Policy, requiring that returners from “red list countries” quarantine for 11 days in a hotel to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Currently, the stay costs approximately £2,285 per passenger, regardless of whether the person is double vaccinated. PGMBM claims that such a policy infringes on fundamental human rights and that the government should waive hotel quarantine requirements if double vaccinated. The London firm stated that the exception in English law on the “deprivations of liberty to prevent the spread of infectious diseases” was disproportionate to the government actions, outside the remit of the provisions. Ireland and Noway are among the countries that have implemented such changes to their requirements of arrival into the country.

The “red list” includes countries such as Kenya and Thailand whereby hotel quarantine is mandatory. If the court proceedings are successful, this could see an end to the Hotel Quarantine Policy for double vaccinated travelers and possible damages to be paid to vaccinated persons who were subject to the cost of hotel quarantine.

PGMBM previously sought judicial review in May for the financial implications brought by hotel quarantining. The government changed policy due to this, to allow travelers to pay in monthly installments to account for financial hardship. However, the judicial review brought on these grounds to end hotel quarantine has been rejected by the government according to the firm.